Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation told the Winston-Salem Journal that the group did not threaten to sue the restaurant, but informed the establishment that they had won cases in similar instances.

One of the co-owners of the restaurant, Mary Haglund, told the Winston-Salem Journal that the discount was a "bad choice of words," and that it was intended to show appreciation for people with "an attitude of gratitude."